2
CALLIOPE
Owns us?
What the hell is he talking about? Jimmy is the CEO of Angelic Jewels. There’s no one above him. No one toownhim. Unless…?
“Look, look, look,” Jimmy continues. “I don’t care. You can even tell him I don’t care. At the end of the day, he’s just the money. Two giants can’t exist in the same ship, you understand? He gets exactly what I’m going to give him and I don’t care if he doesn’t like it. I won’t hear another word about it!”
Is someone… buying Angelic Jewels? No, it’s more than that. Jimmy would never sell unless it was a paycheck so fat, he’d never have to look at his bank account ever again, but from the way he’s speaking, it’s like he’s securing his own position.
An acquisition, maybe? Is the company really in that much trouble? If that’s why he was so furious about those bracelets, then whoever is dumb enough to buy this company is in for a shock at who the real cause of loss is.
I lean against the wall, craning as far as I dare to try and hear more as Jimmy’s voice drops a few octaves.
This is huge.
Bigger than huge.
Acquisitions never go well. One company swallowing up another means wage adjustments, position reshufflings, and the worst of all, job losses. So many job losses.
My mind surges with countless impossible questions as I try to work out which department would most likely be on the chopping block when the door to Jimmy’s office suddenly wrenches open and he storms out. I fly away from the wall, stumbling a few steps down toward Victoria’s office, and gasp in fright.
“Cal? The fuck are you doing here?” His wiry gray brows bunch together. “Are you here to apologize about your fuck up?”
Catching my balance, I lift my chin and the urge to snap back at him surges inside me. If this place is going under and he’s keeping it a secret, then I’ll most likely be losing my job anyway, so what’s to stop me from giving him a piece of my mind?
I take a breath… but the words don’t come.
I can’t lose this job. Not from Jimmy and not from some strange acquisition. I need the money now more than ever, just like countless others who work here. If departments are on the chopping block, then I need to find a way to ensure the knife stays away from mine.
Assuming what I overheard is the full story.
“I…”
“Well?” Jimmy snaps, glancing at the obnoxious watch on his wrist. “I have places to be. I can’t stand around with you all fucking night.”
“Sorry,” I gasp as my confidence ends up deep in the hollow of my gut like every other feeling I get when he’s around. “I’m looking for ice.”
“In the offices? No wonder you fucked up with the bracelets if you can’t even find the fucking kitchen. This place is going to the fucking dogs. Breakroom is that way.” He jerks his thumb behind him, pointing back the way I came. With an obnoxious snort and sniff, he storms past me and I narrowly dart out of his way.
Holy shit.
I definitely wasn’t supposed to overhear any of that.
I walk back down the hallway and finally find the break room, caught in a daze as I replay the snippets of conversation I heard. It’s New Year’s Eve. Two floors up, everyone is celebrating the end of the year and planning the future with no clue that Jimmy’s putting everyone’s job in jeopardy.
Mine included.
On one hand, it could be a good acquisition. Maybe Angelic Jewels is the acquirer and there’s really nothing to worry about. Despite how I focus on that thought all the way back up to the common room, I’m unable to convince myself of its truth, as nothing Jimmy said gave any indication that we were anything but fodder in this deal.
No one notices when I walk in and deposit the ice in the bucket, nor do they notice when I stand in the doorway and observehundreds of faces that I’ve known for six years. Does anyone know? Is anyone here friendly enough with Jimmy that they’re safely in the know or is everyone in the dark?
“Calliope!” Victoria suddenly latches onto my side, her eyes lidded and sparkling from several more glasses of wine since I last saw her. “Aw, honey, why do you look so sad?”
I could ask her, blurt out what I overheard and let it spread like wildfire, consuming everyone here and ruining New Year’s.
No.
